Let’s Not Write A Novel Recklessly

CHAPTER 14 – EPILOGUE

“I will step down as heir.”

The Empire of Runever was rocked to its core when Kirik Lu Persian, the third prince in line to become the next crown prince, announced that he would step down as heir apparent. 

Initially, there was a lot of backlash from the people, as well as from those who had praised the prince, but the parties were so determined that the situation was quickly settled.

What surprised Tae-ram and Se-ho was the king’s reaction. They had expected the most opposition, but the king helped Se-ho safely step down as heir apparent. Bothered by his attitude, Se-ho seized the opportunity to ask him how he felt and got a surprising answer.

“Ever since you were a child, I have prepared myself for this day to come. You were a child who belonged here but didn’t belong here, a child with a sense of otherness that would one day leave. It wouldn’t have been wrong to say you were empty. This is the first time you’ve ever asked me to do something. So I’ll do as you wish, and I suppose it’s Lian’s will that I give you this, too.”

The king added that he was glad that Prince Kirik had warmed up to Tae-ram after meeting him.

The expression on Se-ho’s face as he delivered these words to Tae-ram was complicated. For a short time, the king was also his parent.

With everything going so smoothly, a small problem remained.

Rumors abounded about Prince Kirik: ‘He fell in love with a priest and returned to the temple,’ ‘He married a dragon,’ ‘He lived in the demon world,’ ‘He was brainwashed by a neighboring country,’ and so on. Some of these rumors involved Tae-ram.

The rumor was that the prince was about to be possessed by a warrior and transported to another dimension. The rumor was bolstered by the fact that Se-ho, who was free and relieved of his duties as a prince, was always by Tae-ram’s side. As a result, Tae-ram is being followed everywhere these days.

* * *

In the end, Tae-ram gave up on going out again today, choosing instead to chat with Se-ho in his room.

“The more I think about it, the more I regret it.”

Tae-ram muttered absentmindedly as he tossed and turned on the spacious bed. Se-ho, who was lying next to him, poked his cheek unnecessarily.

“What is it?”

“What if we start missing everyone? It’s fortunate to be able to go back, but it’s already lonely.” 

“But we can’t stay here forever either.”

“That’s true… Still, it’s regrettable.”

No matter what they called it, Yellow no longer appeared in front of Tae-ram and Se-ho, and the book was no longer summoned. And a strong sense of foreboding. They could feel their return to the original world coming.

“It feels like the sensations I felt then are coming back, just like when I received the ball of light containing my memories.”

“I felt like I was being pulled away, too.” 

“I wonder how long we have left? It doesn’t seem like tomorrow, but it’s precarious.”

“Am I the only one who can’t wait to get back? If time keeps ticking, we’re both out of school.”

“It’s not about school, we’ll be reported missing.” 

“So let’s get back before things get worse.”

“Bastard. I haven’t even said goodbye properly yet. I shouldn’t have let them go if I knew this was going to happen. I thought I’d be back later.”

It had been a long journey and they had been away for a long time, so Fran returned to the temple and Kairan, to his rare. It had been only a week ago that they’d been sent away by Tae-ram, who’d coaxed them out of their reluctance to go. Amil had been promoted to chamberlain and transferred. He couldn’t tell if he was busy with the handover.

“Tears and runny noses, you parted just for barely a week. Is it still not enough?”

Se-ho said, outwardly calm, but he couldn’t hide the bitterness in his eyes. Enemies

but both Fran and Kairan considered him a friend for now.

“Yeah. It’s far from enough. Once we return to the original world, we won’t be able to meet anyone again.” 

“That’s true.”

“I’ll miss them a lot. Fran, Kairan, Amil, and everything in this world.” 

“Senior…”

Se-ho stroked Tae-ram’s hair as if to comfort him. At this rate, Tae-ram would be depressed for a while after they returned. Se-ho felt his heart grow heavy.

“Even with you, blonde and jewel-eyed… Platinum hair and amethyst is a rare combination….” 

The next words of Tae-ram’s sentence stunned Se-ho. For a moment, he felt sorry for Tae-ram. He felt like an idiot.

“Don’t say silly things. Seriously… I suffered because I was worried.”

“Our Se-ho, you were concerned about me.”

“Sometimes, I want to punch you, Senior.” 

“If you do that, it’s attempted murder.”

Tae-ram expected Se-ho to retort right away, but he was quiet for some reason. Just as Tae-ram was about to say something because it was strange, Se-ho let out a small sigh and said in a somewhat depressed voice.

“…Are you that fond of Prince Kirik?” 

“Huh?”

“Well, someone as bright and colorful as him is more suitable for you than someone as stiff and unfunny as me.”

“You’re getting serious again. Wrinkle your brow.” 

Tae-ram pinched Se-ho’s brow.

“In case you’ve forgotten, Prince Kirik is a nobleman, and I don’t like pushy people. I like people who are delicate and sweet.”

Se-ho only rolled his eyes at Tae-ram’s confession.

Tae-ram was frustrated that Se-ho was still shoveling. When they returned to Runever after the battle, he thought Se-ho would confess right away. He wasn’t sure if it was a confession, but when he said he’d tell him when the battle was over with such a wistful expression, it could only be a confession.

Tae-ram unnecessarily got out of bed and straightened his clothes in anticipation.

Contrary to Tae-ram’s expectations, Se-ho had gradually lost the courage to confess since returning to Runever. Seeing Tae-ram so carefree made Se-ho feel like the confession he had once made to himself was a distant memory.

He was so unstable back then, and maybe he needed someone to lean on. He knew the whole story, and it seems like he’s already made up his mind, but if he confess now and it’s different, won’t it ruin their normal senior-junior relationship?

Maybe it’s better to keep his feelings to himself.

In their minds, the two of them were like statues. Unaware of Se-ho’s status as a honey seller, Tae-ram dropped a bombshell to set the tone.

“Come to think of it, when are you going to say what you promised to do after all the battles are over?” 

“That’s… um…”

Se-ho shuts up again.

“We’re the only ones here, so feel free to talk. I’m ready.” 

“There’s nothing more to say.”

Tae-ram looked at Se-ho’s pained face and finally realized what was going on.

That idiot’s digging again, and he’s screwed to the point where he still looks cute. He honestly doesn’t understand where the misunderstanding came from, but he can’t because Se-ho and him are completely different.

Tae-ram decides to abandon his plan to hear Se-ho’s confession. He thought it was unfair that he had to confess twice, but it was better than letting their relationship fall apart.

“Honestly, I’m frustrated by your inflexibility, arguing over every little thing, and sometimes I get angry with you, but I like you. What about you?”

Tae-ram’s words were as sweet as chocolate. Se-ho wasn’t sure he’d heard right. He couldn’t believe he still liked him.

“I’m sorry.”

“…Am I different?”

Tae-ram’s face, which had been as bright as a flower, frowned. 

“What? No, not that….”

“Then what is it?”

The confident Tae-ram was greatly shaken by Se-ho’s apology. Faced with the prospect of updating his black history, Tae-ram felt somehow unjustified. He couldn’t believe the difference after confessing twice. He was embarrassed that he had guessed wrong.

“Hey, you can leave now.”

Tae-ram said. Tae-ram’s voice became cold, and Se-ho, who was panicking, closed his eyes tightly and spat out his confession. No matter which way it went, the senior-junior relationship was over.

“I like you too, I’ve always liked you.” 

“You… Then why the hell did you apologize?”

“I apologized because I’m sorry for always letting you talk first.”

Tae-ram was glad that it worked out after almost getting dumped, but he was also angry. 

“You could have misunderstood. Keep your distance. You think too much in the first place.”

“You’re the one who misunderstood what I was trying to say, and you’re the one with the short fuse. If you had been more prepared, there wouldn’t have been this misunderstanding.” 

“So it’s my fault?”

“…No! No, I don’t want to fight to this point.”

“…That’s true. So you and I like each other, right?” 

“That’s right.”

Embarrassed, the two were silent for a moment. Tae-ram was the first to recover. 

“I’m sorry, but can you wait a bit?”

“…What do you mean?”

“Don’t look so anxious, I like you, trust me, come on, there’s something I haven’t finished yet.”

In the moment of realization that he had communicated with Se-ho through his mind, Tae-ram thought of Fran and Kairan. He’d thought he needed to tie the knot before leaving for the original world. Thanks to Se-ho, he finally made up his mind.

“Is it because of Fran and Kairan?”

In the back of his mind, Se-ho could see Tae-ram’s concern. He cared about them more than he cared about this world. He could not pretend not to see their hearts.

“Yeah.”

“…It’s okay. I’ll wait.” 

“Yeah. Thanks for understanding.”

Tae-ram was relieved that Se-ho understood his feelings. The world and its characters were already out of his hands, but his heart still went out to Fran and Kairan.

He mean, technically, he was their parent. No, but why did it seem like there was one more? It’s not Amil, which is weird.

The more he thought about it, the more something bothered him. Se-ho looked at the deep in thought with a serious expression.

“…Senior?”

“Oh, sorry. I just feel like I’m forgetting something very important.” 

“What do you mean?”

“It’s weird when you think about it, we all sacrificed a little bit of our memories so that we could come back safely, but you and I are all too well for that, and on the other hand, I feel like we’ve lost something very big, and I wonder if it’s okay for it to end like this?”

“It’s just that so much has happened.” 

“Maybe.”

“For now, get some sleep.”

Se-ho tucked Tae-ram back into bed. 

“Good night, Tae-ram.”

With that, Se-ho gently kissed Tae-ram on the forehead. 

“When you’re done, let me kiss you on the mouth then.”

Speaking quickly, Se-ho left the room without waiting for a response from Tae-ram. Left alone, Tae-ram pulled the covers up to his head to hide his flushed face.

* * *

Sometime later, he learned that Fran had returned to the palace. He expected Fran to come looking for him right away, but no matter how much time passed, he didn’t show up.

“Is it because he still feels sorry for me?”

Tae-ram remembered the dark look on Fran’s face as he left for the temple. At the time, he’d thought it was because he’d regretted being separated from him, but maybe it wasn’t just that.

Time passed quickly again.

Tired of waiting, he decided to make his move. He left Fran alone because he thought he needed time to organize his thoughts, but he knew that if he left him like this, they wouldn’t be able to talk about anything.

He’ll regret it, and he’ll feel guilty about him, and if he disappears, he’ll have bad thoughts, and that’s the last thing he needs.

Tae-ram immediately got up and headed for Fran’s room. Their rooms weren’t that far apart. He quickly arrived in front of Fran’s room.

“Fran. Are you there?”

Tae-ram knocked on the door, and a moment later, Fran burst out of his room with a loud bang. His clothes were disheveled from his haste.

“Tae-ram… What’s going on?”

He looked at the floor, unable to look him in the eye. Seeing him like that, Tae-ram was glad he’d forced himself to come over.

“Did you eat dinner?”

Fran looked even thinner than the last time he’d seen him, and he was worried. His eyes were darker than usual as if he hadn’t slept well.

“No….”

Fran shook his head helplessly. Seeing him so exhausted upset Tae-ram. 

“Can I come in?”

“Yes, yes, come in.”

Fran’s room was still neat, but somehow cluttered. Tae-ram had a strange feeling and looked around until his eyes fell on a large suitcase in the corner. At least he had his luggage out, as if he was leaving right away.

“Have a seat wherever you’re comfortable.”

Tae-ram sat down on the bed at Fran’s suggestion, and Fran pulled a chair over and sat down in front of him. Despite the proximity, he was uncomfortable and didn’t make eye contact. He couldn’t keep his hands still for long, and it was clear that he was psychologically disturbed.

“Fran. Do you have something to say to me?”

Tae-ram asked Fran, who remained silent. 

“Were you just going to leave again without seeing my face?”

Hearing the sadness in Tae-ram’s voice, Fran hung his head, and after a few stuttering attempts, he finally spoke.

“That’s… The truth is, I wanted to see you, Tae-ram, but I didn’t have the heart to do it. The more I think about it, the more I think I was being too selfish, and I didn’t know what to say to you, so I didn’t….”

Fran clasped his hands together as if in penance to a God. Tae-ram felt sorry for Fran, who was trembling slightly and held his hands tightly.

“Fran. Don’t push yourself. It’s okay.” 

“Tae-ram….”

The warmth of Tae-ram’s small, soft hands. On the one hand, Fran felt his tension ease. On the other hand, his guilt was amplified. He could still hear Tae-ram’s voice in his ear, crying out to escape the dream.

He’d done you so much wrong, and yet he’s still so kind to him. Did he deserve this favor?

Seeing the confusion on Fran’s face, Tae-ram started talking to him to make it easier for him to speak.

“I have something to apologize to you, Fran. I think you know this already, but this world was a novel I wrote, and I didn’t think it through, I just wrote it haphazardly, so there were a lot of gaps, and I filled them in as I went along. Because of me, Fran was orphaned, and I’m sorry that he had to have a lonely childhood.”

“That’s not your fault….”

“And I gave Fran an irritating personality just for the fun of it, and I think you were confused by the extremes.”

He gave him an extreme personality called ‘Yandere’ because he’s a sweetheart, but his character is bland. Fran would never have wanted that.

Fran wanted to comfort Tae-ram, who was looking sad, and after keeping his mouth shut for a while, he blurted out.

“Don’t apologize. I understand that everything I did was my own choice, regardless of Tae-ram’s preferences. I promised not to feel guilty about family matters. It wasn’t just tormenting; some people cared for me like family. I might not have been aware of it, but Tae-ram made me realize that. In a way, Tae-ram is like a benefactor to me. Most importantly, if Tae-ram hadn’t written about me, I wouldn’t even exist in this world.”

Tae-ram loved Fran’s gentleness, how he always put him first, even if sometimes he could be a bit, well, overbearing, but in the end, he was only doing it for himself. The Delicious Man was not a well-written piece of work. Blown settings and a creaky narrative, but he was proud of Fran for turning out so well.

“Thank you for enduring this messy novel. Fran is amazing. The nightmares were undoubtedly painful, but they were a manifestation of the guilt I felt, so it wasn’t entirely Fran’s fault. So, I think Fran can be a bit more honest and not hide himself.”

The words of encouragement were like nothing he’d ever heard before, and Fran was speechless for a while. He was sure he would have liked him even if he wasn’t a writer.

Why does he always tell him what he needs to hear the most? He was the first person to tell him he was pretty, the first person to tell him it was okay to be vulnerable. He tried to give up, but he just can’t. If he can be honest, if he can be ambitious, he wants to express his feelings too.

For the first time, Fran let his honest feelings come out of his mouth.

“I have no right to say this to you, but I like you, Tae-ram. I’m sorry for saying this.”

When he finished, Fran looked like he was about to burst into tears. Tae-ram slowly stroked his sobbing back.

“…People don’t need qualifications to like people.”

Fran was the character he worked the hardest on and meant the most to him. At first, he was just amazed that his character had come to life. Later, he felt guilty that his complacent setup had ruined Fran’s life.

But that’s his arrogance because now he’s not a fictional character anymore. He’s a human being, just like him, who can be honest about his feelings, so he has to confront him. Maybe his answer will make him cry, but if it does, he has to comfort him.

“I like Fran, too, but my heart probably doesn’t weigh the same as his.”

“…I know. I just wanted to say it, and I’m glad you’re not offended by it, because I’m a selfish person who can only hold one person, and that doesn’t suit someone like you.”

“That’s not true! It made me feel good because who wouldn’t want to be liked by someone so pretty? I think Fran is a great person who can hold a whole person, and I like that about him.”

“Tae-ram!”

Fran threw his arms around him. After a moment’s hesitation, he hugged him back. Then, casually, he stroked Fran’s head slowly. At his affectionate touch, Fran finally broke down and began to cry.

“Don’t cry, thank you for always healing me. The days I spent with you were very happy, and I won’t forget them even if I go back to the original world.”

Fran’s body stiffened at the suddenness of Tae-ram’s farewell. 

“What does that mean? Tae-ram. Are you leaving?”

“Um… I mean, the administrator of this world said that this place has been stabilized, and I think I’ll be going back to my original world soon, I can feel it now, not right away, but there’s not that much left.”

Fran was shocked like the sky was falling. He’d avoided him for a while because he didn’t dare to face him, but he’d never thought it would be goodbye forever. His heart felt like it was falling out of his chest at the unbelievable truth.

“What will I do if you leave? I wanted to stay with you, even as a friend. I can’t live without you anymore. I don’t want to be separated. Please don’t go.”

“I’m very sad too, but I think I’ll take comfort in knowing that Fran is doing well….”

Fran’s ears were already tuned out of Tae-ram’s consolations.

“If I had known this would happen, I would have spent more time with you instead of avoiding you. I guess I can’t do that, so I’ll just have to lock you up somewhere and send you to ….”

Tae-ram was not at ease, seeing that Fran was more anxious than he had thought. The last part was a little scary. But he couldn’t lie to him, he didn’t think he should.

“Calm down, Fran. Listen to me.”

Tae-ram wiped a tear from the corner of Fran’s eye with his finger and explained as calmly as he could. 

“If it’s so hard for you, Fran, this time, come find me.”

“…Find you? To find you?”

“Yes. It may not be possible in my lifetime, but it was a miracle for me to get here, so why not for Fran? I think I’d enjoy it more if Fran was around.”

Fran, who had been wilting just a moment before, was motivated. 

“Do you enjoy having me around?”

“Of course.”

“Tae-ram. I’ll do it, even if it means ripping out Kairan’s heart….” 

Tae-ram cut off Fran’s frightening statement.

“You can’t do that! I want Fran to come to our world, but if it’s by hurting other people, other creatures, then it’s meaningless. I don’t want to see a selfish Fran like that.”

“Okay. I will, and I’ll do what’s legal, and I’m going to find Tae-ram!”

Tae-ram was a little nervous about what Fran meant by legal, but he was glad to see him so cheerful. At least he wouldn’t commit a crime. Maybe?

“I’ll look forward to it, and if you come, I’ll buy you something delicious, and we can go to places that aren’t here.”

“Yes! I’m up for anything with you, Tae-ram!”

Throughout the rest of the night, Tae-ram made many small promises to Fran.

* * *

Again, a few days later.

“I want to go too! I’ll be well-behaved. I promise.”

“Not today. I have an important conversation with Kairan.”

“But… It’s uncertain when Tae-ram will leave….”

Tae-ram looked at Fran, who was clinging to his arm, with troubled eyes. Ever since he’d revealed that he was going back to the original world, Fran had been clinging to him everywhere he went, hoping to stay with him for at least the rest of the day.

This morning, however, he had barely gotten away from the stir-frying Se-ho, who was demanding to know when he would be done. Tae-ram sharply pulled Fran’s hand away.

“Let go of me, Fran. Please.”

“…Okay. Okay.”

Fran looked like he had something to say, but in the end, he complied. 

“I need you to stay with me tomorrow.”

“I will.”

The sight of Fran’s sagging backside bothered Tae-ram, but he had to see Kairan first. Hopefully, he’d be able to talk to him properly today.

After organizing his rares and returning to the kingdom a little later than Fran, Kairan was as close to Tae-ram as Fran was to him. But in all the time they’d spent together, they hadn’t had much time for serious talk. Whenever Kairan tried to bring up the subject of the original world, Tae-ram would either change the subject or walk away.

Today, he must tell him. With a strong resolve, Tae-ram headed for Kairan’s room. 

“Kairan. I’m sorry, I’m a little late, right?”

Kairan’s room was still in disarray. It had gotten even stranger. The magic glyphs on the walls seemed out of place. Even to Tae-ram, who couldn’t feel the magic, they had a sinister aura about them.

“Welcome home, Tae-ram! You look so cute today.”

Kairan greeted him with a bright smile as he looked around the room with an odd expression on his face. Tae-ram looked at Kairan and thought, ‘You’re the one who’s cute.’

“I’m sorry for making you wait.”

“It’s okay, come this way. I just finished preparing.” “

Preparing for what?”

“You’ll find out when you come. You haven’t had dinner yet, right?” 

“No, I haven’t eaten yet.”

Kairan grabbed Tae-ram’s hand and dragged him away. 

“…What is this?”

The place where Tae-ram was being taken by Kairan was an incredibly clean and organized room. In the center of the room was a large table with a pure white tablecloth, and on top of it was an appetizing-looking dish.

“I’ve organized the warehouse, and I made this meal, especially for you! Sit here, don’t stand.” 

With that, Kairan pulled out a chair for Tae-ram. Tae-ram hesitated, but after a moment, he then sat down.

“Kairan did this himself?”

“Yes! Don’t worry, Amil helped too. I promise it’s delicious.”

Tae-ram studied the dish with suspicion. A thick steak that smelled savory from being grilled in butter. A fresh salad drizzled with a refreshing fruit dressing. Kairan’s dish was the best combination of simple and filling.

It doesn’t smell bad, but that steak is suspicious. Highly likely monster meat… Plus, it’s Amil who helped him. Doesn’t that make it even more suspicious?

Tae-ram’s eyes narrowed in disbelief.

“Don’t be so suspicious. It’s not monster meat.”

Kairan, reading Tae-ram’s suspicion, replied with a grunt. 

“I’m sorry, but Kairan likes monster meat, too.”

“I don’t want to do anything you don’t like. I almost feel sorry for you, not being able to enjoy delicious monster food.”

“Haha….”

Tae-ram didn’t reply, just laughed awkwardly. 

“Anyway, let’s eat quickly before it gets cold.”

Kairan looked at him with expectant eyes.

“I’m going to eat, so don’t stare at me like that.” 

“Oh, wait a minute. I’ll slice it for you.”

Kairan brought Tae-ram’s plate in front of him and eagerly sliced it into bite-sized pieces. Then he held a piece of meat slathered in sauce in front of his mouth.

“Open your mouth. Do it!”

“I, I’ll eat it.”

“I want to feed you, but… Quickly, my hand is hurting. Quickly. Hmm?”

Kairan’s cajoling boggled Tae-ram’s mind, and now he knew that Kairan knew he was weak to his face and was using it. He’s using his face again. He’s an idiot for falling for it.

“Ah, okay. Ah….”

When he reluctantly opened his mouth, he shoved a piece of meat into it. 

“What do you think, is it good?”

The steak was indeed tender, and the juices that leaked into his mouth as he chewed gave off a rich flavor, while the savory butter enhanced the flavor of the steak. Tae-ram focused on the meat.

“Delicious! Now I’ll eat it myself.”

Kairan smiled wryly as he watched Tae-ram frantically pick at the meat. The plate was almost empty when he said,

“Tae-ram. This is actually orc meat.”

Kairan smiled as usual and made a light-hearted confession, the shock of which caused Tae-ram to drop the fork he was holding.

“What? This is orc meat? Really? Are you kidding me?” 

“I’m sorry I lied, but it was delicious.”

“Really orc meat?”

“Yep. That’s orc meat.”

Tae-ram’s thought circuits shut down for a moment. This deliciously colored, juicy meat was orc! Was everything the nasty dragon said earlier just an act? He’s even more offended by the deliciousness.

“…This is too much, Kairan. I believed you… You said it wasn’t.” 

“Are you pissed?”

“…I don’t know.”

Tae-ram jerked his head away from the grinning Kairan. 

“Just look at me once. You’re not going to eat monster meat anymore.”

At Kairan’s meaningful tone, Tae-ram found himself staring at him.

“What, what do you mean?”

“Since it’s the last time, I wanted to feed you my favorite dish.”

He hadn’t expected Kairan to bring up the topic he’d been putting off. Tae-ram was stunned and couldn’t say anything. The air grew heavier between them.

It was Kairan who broke the silence.

“When are you leaving?”

“Kairan….”

The smile on Kairan’s face was uncharacteristically mature, and Tae-ram wasn’t sure how to react.

“It’s okay, so please tell me.”

“I’m not entirely sure. But it feels close. I can sense it.” 

“I knew it. I felt it too, you know.”

Tae-ram was grateful for Kairan, who never showed any signs of concern for himself, and felt sorry for not being able to repay him for all the feelings he couldn’t express.

“So you knew all along.”

“Yes. I don’t want you to go.” 

“That’s….”

“I know I shouldn’t, and I’ve had some bad thoughts, but I think the right thing to do is to let you go because I know you’ll be lonely and sad. You’re important to me.”

Smiling bitterly, Kairan bit his lip.

Every day, he grew more fond of him. He pretended to be okay, to not care, but if he went, he’d probably fall apart. He might as well fall into a very long sleep.

Every time he revealed his identity, it hurt. They were always suspicious of him, even though he meant them no harm. The only one who hadn’t changed after revealing his identity was Tae-ram, and being around him was the most natural way to be himself.

Kairan fought the urge to grab him.

“You’re going to bleed. Don’t bite your lip.”

Tae-ram placed a gentle hand on Kairan’s lips. Kairan’s heart clenched at the touch of his wound.

“Tae-ram… You can’t stay here, can you?”

“…No. I want to go back to my original world, I have family there, I have things I’ve built up, and I don’t know how to stay here in the first place, but that doesn’t mean I don’t value Kairan or this world.”

Kairan had read Tae-ram’s emotions. For once, he didn’t want to read them, but they were so intense that he couldn’t help but see them. A place in his heart. He couldn’t hate him, so he looked away.

He knew it was a wish he couldn’t fulfill, but he tried. A wish-granting wizard who can’t grant his wishes. It’s pathetic, but at least he’ll have something to look forward to if he doesn’t try.

“Tae-ram. Why don’t you marry me, so you can stay here? I’m rich, I’m strong, and I can protect you for the rest of your life.”

Kairan’s confession weighed heavily on Tae-ram’s heart, the same words he’d heard the day they’d first met, but even heavier. The impact was different.

He had dismissed Kairan’s feelings as light. He thought it was just cute and easy. At first, he thought he was just like a child. But the more he got to know him, the more he realized how deep he was. If he was in trouble, he didn’t want to delve too deeply into it. He was so energized and comforted by his caring, straightforward eyes, that he knew he had to answer him.

“Kairan. I don’t think the prince is… No, I like Lee Se-ho.” 

“Yeah….”

“But Kairan is special to me, I like him in a different way than Lee Se-ho, and I think if I go back to my original world like this, I’ll keep thinking about him. I’ll probably never be able to forget him.”

“That means you have a crush on me anyway, right?” 

“That, right?”

Kairan’s eyes, which had been glazed over with wistfulness, became eager. 

“Then I’ll follow you!”

“…Follow me, you mean?”

“Anyway, Fran said he wants to learn dimensional traveling magic. I’ll study it with him. Will you wait for me?”

Tae-ram felt that Kairan and Fran could do it. 

“Sure. I’ll wait.”

“Life is long, so don’t worry.” 

“But I’m human, you know?” 

“Well… I’ll put in a lot of effort.”

“Okay.”

* * *

After that, Tae-ram was busy.

He met with Amil to explain the rumors and went with Fran and Kairan wherever they wanted to go. Se-ho frowned when he saw him still being held by the two after his errands were done, but he gave in for the last time.

By the end of the summer, when the cold set in on Runever, Tae-ram had returned to the original world with Se-ho.

* * *

Fortunately, no time had passed in the original world, and Tae-ram had no time to recuperate from his long journey.

What had changed was his relationship with Se-ho. Se-ho stood steadfastly by his side as if he wanted to get back the time that Fran and Kairan had stolen from him. He took the same courses as him and participated in all of his events and clubs.

Min-ah and the other members of the club were initially surprised to see Se-ho treating Tae-ram as if his personality had changed, but over time, they got used to it.

“What are you writing down so hard?”

Tae-ram, who had stopped by the club room during the vaguely interrupted break, was asked by Se-ho.

“I’m planning my next novel.”

“Didn’t you say you were going to take a break for a while?”

“Something keeps coming to mind. No, but don’t you have anything to do? It’s nice to be with you, but it’s too much. The other day, a senior asked me if I had a weakness for you.”

“Nothing is more important to me than you right now.”

At Se-ho’s flirtation, which was as natural as Kairan’s, Tae-ram could only stiffen, unable to say anything. As Tae-ram blushed from ear to ear, Se-ho asked nonchalantly.

“What’s the story?”

Tired of Se-ho, Tae-ram let out a small sigh and said with a feeling of resignation.

“I thought I’d try my hand at writing the next installment of The Delicious Man. It’ll be like a new book since the book is gone.”

The novel The Delicious Man has disappeared from Tae-ram and Se-ho’s world. The bibliographic information on the internet was deleted, and all the physical copies they had were gone. Just in case, Tae-ram checked with Min-ah, but she couldn’t remember anything either.

“It’s not Fran or Kairan, is it? Even if it’s virtual, I don’t want you to deal with them.”

“It’s not like that, so relax your eyes, they’re real people now, how can I use them?”

“That’s great, but….”

“First of all, the main character is a demon, with eyes as black as obsidian and long, shiny black hair. He doesn’t talk much, and he’s calm and delicate, so he takes care of other people. If I had to pick a trait, would you say he’s affectionate or devoted?”

“That’s oddly specific. You’re not modeling this after someone you know, are you?”

“No, I’m not! I hate that kind of thing. A novel should stay a novel, and you shouldn’t be jealous of a fictional character like this anyway.”

Tae-ram told Se-ho the story he had written as best he could.

There was a demon who had lost a loved one and had lost his mind. He wanted to die, but he couldn’t, no matter what he did. Delicious food, gorgeous clothing, precious jewelry, and beautiful women. He could have it all, but he was always lonely, and nothing could erase his bitterness. Eventually, the Demon King laid it all down and left the Demon World. In search of a warrior who could end his painful life.

One day, a bright, lovely boy appeared in front of him, the hero he had been searching for. He begged the boy to kill him. But the boy refused, and instead asked to be his companion.

The demon grew fond of the boy and agreed to travel with him. While traveling, the demon and the boy’s group encountered a major crisis. The Demon King, who found love in the boy, sacrificed himself to save them all. But everyone, including the boy, forgot about him.

“That’s the story.”

“It has an uncharacteristically sad ending.” 

“It is. But I don’t feel like fixing it.”

“I’d like to tweak the ending.” 

“How?”

“I’d leave the big picture the same, but how about something like, ‘Only the boy remembered the devil.'” 

“What are you doing, giving such a hopeful ending!”

“It’s just that, somehow, I want to.”

“Yeah, I think you’re right, I should just change the ending.” 

Tae-ram laughed out loud.

“Why are you laughing like that?”

Tae-ram’s spirits lifted every time he saw the changed version of Se-ho. He loved that he was becoming more and more like him.

“Just being nice. Thanks for the advice.” 

“No, I didn’t do anything.”

A tender moment passed between them, but the peace lasted less than ten minutes. 

“I don’t think this is the way it’s supposed to play out, to say the least. Where did you sell the possibility?”

 Se-ho, who was reading Tae-ram’s article, said sharply.

“Oh, really, are you an editor or a critic? Don’t nitpick, just give me a simple appreciation!”

“What can I do when I can see the setup holes so clearly?”

As the two were in the middle of a heated exchange, footsteps were heard and someone entered the room.

“You two are always fighting over chicken feathers. I don’t know if you’ve changed or not. I guess I’m tired of it.”

“Min-ah! Listen to me for a moment. I was talking about a good character balance in the next project. Se-ho didn’t like it.”

Tae-ram grunted as he spoke, and Min-ah stroked his head to comfort him.

“I didn’t say I didn’t like it, I just said that I think it would be a better story if you fixed this part.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’d have to listen to the entire first episode to fix everything you said, that’s a rewrite!”

“It’s just a small fix, don’t overdo it, and stay away from Min-ah. You’re making her uncomfortable!”

“No, I’m fine. I like Tae-ram because he’s so soft.” 

“Me too. Min-ah is my favorite.”

Se-ho’s face crumpled into a grimace as Tae-ram hugged Min-ah tightly. Min-ah and Tae-ram laughed hysterically at the sight of him.

Se-ho’s mouth dropped open with a pouty expression.

Tae-ram quickly pulled away from Min-ah. He’s pouting again. Last time, it took a week for him to calm down, but he should try to resolve this quickly.

“Min-ah, stop playing with Se-ho.”

“Who cares about boyfriends? I have class soon anyway. I just stopped by to pick up something, so have a good time.”

Rummaging through the bookshelves, Min-ah leisurely left the club room. There was an awkward silence in the room as she left.

Tae-ram wondered how to make Se-ho feel better.

Suddenly, his eyes caught sight of Se-ho’s soft hair. Cautiously, Tae-ram slowly reached out and touched Se-ho’s hair. Se-ho flinched for a moment, but he didn’t stop him.

He continued to stroke his hair for a while. When he was sure he had calmed down, he leaned in close and cooed at him.

“You know that was just a joke, right?”

He grabbed Se-ho’s face with both hands and gently pressed his lips to his own. Then Se-ho’s mouth, which had been closed as tightly as a padlock, opened.

“Even if you’re joking, I care. Do you like Min-ah the best?” 

“I like you better, very much.”

“I like you too, Tae-ram.”

Se-ho pulled Tae-ram into a tight embrace. And their lips met again.

Tae-ram couldn’t think straight at the warm, moist feel of their lips. He gave in to the urge and sought his lips again, and again, and again. Se-ho responded in kind, devouring his breath deeper. Before they knew it, they found each other’s hands and intertwined them.

An uncharacteristically sweet silence filled the space.

How much time had passed? Tae-ram pushed Se-ho’s face away from his suddenly insistent probing. Se-ho, who had been concentrating for a while, grumbled in frustration.

“Why?”

“I have class, so pull away.”

Se-ho hugged him harder, and Tae-ram shook his head. 

“Hey, Se-ho.”

“Can’t we just skip class?”

“No! I’m supposed to be graduating. I’m already late because of the army.” 

“You can graduate with me.”

“What. Aren’t you going to the army?” 

“I’m going to grad school.”

“Good for you. Now pull away. If you keep this up, you’re not allowed to kiss for a week.” 

“…Okay, you can go.”

“Good boy. Let’s go.”

Tae-ram whispered, squeezing Se-ho’s hand, trying to calm him down. 

“I’ll come over to your place after class.”

Se-ho smiled brightly.

* * * 

An alien space. It exists but does not exist. There, a small yellow bird and a man were watching over something.

[He doesn’t remember everything, but he has some fragments of possibilities within you.] 

“It would be better to forget it all.”

Although Lucias said so, he was secretly pleased that Tae-ram vaguely remembered him. It felt like the faint heartbeat of his vanished heart was now detectable.

[It’s not too late even now.]

Lucias shook his head silently at the forceful words.

Tae-ram and the rest of his companions had all fallen back into place, not wanting to disturb the ideal state, and while it was certainly a shame not to have him by their side, he was more than satisfied that he had restored their happiness.

“I think this is the most ideal state. I don’t want to change anything.” 

[You are a strange creature, though now you have transcended even that.]

That day, in the Demon Castle, Lucias wished desperately for Tae-ram and his companions to be happy. The Force made him an offer, and he accepted it. As a result, everyone’s memories remained intact, but Lucias became a single concept like the Force: a concept that maintained two worlds, and he could only exist as an administrator.

[A new origin is calling to me.]

“Yes. Go. I will watch over both worlds.” 

The little bird split the space and flew into it.

Left alone, Lucias set to work. He orchestrated the two worlds so that they would run their course, and when he was tired, he looked down at Tae-ram. It was his only solace.

Lucias continued to watch over Tae-ram’s future.

For a very long time. Until the very end.

* * *

In a college lecture hall months later. Tae-ram couldn’t concentrate in class.

Inevitably, today was the day Fran and Kairan had announced that they were crossing over to the other side.

A week earlier, a voicemail had arrived on his cell phone from an unknown number. 

At first, he had dismissed it as spam, but after two days and dozens of calls a day, he finally gave in to his curiosity and opened the voicemail.

The voicemail was more than just a message from Fran and Kairan. It was short, less than a minute long, but it said everything that mattered.

A simple hello, the completion of a dimensional traveling spell using the heart of a green dragon they had once hunted, that they would be on their world soon, that their arrival date was today by this world’s standards, and that they had made it a priority to find any sign of Tae-ram, so there was a good chance they would be close by.

Tae-ram was impressed by their determination.

It was unlikely that Fran and Kairan would come to the school right away, but just in case, Tae-ram stared out the window in a daze, which made Se-ho uncomfortable.

“Why are you so restless?”

“Can you be calm about the two of them coming? Are they going to be okay? Magic is safe, right? Won’t they be treated like a suspicious person if they’re dressed like that? What if they take them to the police station, shouldn’t they have brought plain clothes?”

“If you’re going to do this, why did you come to class? You’re a psycho, stop shaking your legs.”

“My grades are at stake.” 

“Oh, come on.”

Se-ho had a look on his face that was rarely seen these days. He knew he shouldn’t, but it was refreshing to see him like this. It was the first chance he’d had to tease him in a long time.

“What. Are you jealous now?”

“Yes, I am. Who loves having a bug on their lover?”

He expected Se-ho to blush or stammer in embarrassment, but the fact that he came out so brazenly only embarrassed Tae-ram, who was trying to tease him.

“You, aren’t you ashamed of yourself, and why are Fran and Kairan bugs, they’re so pretty and cute.”

Regardless of Tae-ram’s blush, Se-ho’s face didn’t change and he continued with his macho remarks. 

“You’re so in love with those two. I hate it. For me, it’s a mental affair.”

Now it was Tae-ram who was at a disadvantage. He stammered out an excuse.

“Mental affair? No… Fran and Kairan are like younger siblings to me. They’re like children to me, so to speak. Can’t you think of them that way?”

Tae-ram’s words left Se-ho genuinely dumbfounded. There was no such thing as a child who was older than their parents, and children didn’t usually like their parents that way in the first place.

“Is there any child in the world who covets their parents?”

“Why, there are little kids who say things like, ‘When I grow up, I’m going to marry my dad.'”

“My sister-in-law says, but they’re associations.”

“Well, that world was just born, and it probably started moving the moment you and I walked in, and I think it’s because I was the first thing they saw. It’s like an imprinting effect. So maybe if they experience a lot of things here, and meet a lot of different people, it will change.”

“There’s no one else as cute and loving as you, and you can’t try to sugarcoat it with something like that. If the two come over, make sure you draw a line in the sand, because you are a man with a boyfriend.”

“Oh, okay, I’ll be careful.”

Tae-ram couldn’t help but raise a white flag in front of Se-ho, who was bouncing back and forth between cold and hot water. 

“Wow. I’ve never been interested in 3D, but you guys look great.”

“Mi, Min-ah, how long have you been watching us?”

Tae-ram turned around to see Min-ah watching him and Se-ho with sparkling eyes. Her eyes reminded Tae-ram of Amil, and a cold sweat ran down his back.

“I’m in the same class as you, so don’t worry, I didn’t hear any whispers of love between you two, but why is Se-ho pouting like that?”

“It has nothing to do with Senior Min-ah.”

“Se-ho. I feel so sorry for you lately. If you keep this up, I’m going to introduce Tae-ram to a handsome guy.”

“Don’t say that, even if you’re joking.”

“I’m not kidding, I have a model friend who said Tae-ram was handsome last time….” “Min-ah!”

Tae-ram turned his attention back to the window, leaving the giggling Min-ah and Se-ho behind. It was then. Mint and red. Two colorful, familiar heads came into Tae-ram’s view. 

“That’s it for today’s class.”

Just like that, the class was over, and Tae-ram jumped out of his seat and stormed out of the room.

“I’ll go first!”

“Wait, Tae-ram, where’s your bag?”

Tae-ram hurried down the stairs, leaving Se-ho calling after him.

As soon as he exited the building, Fran, who had been wandering the campus looking for him, rushed at him with frightening speed.

“Tae-ram!”

Unable to contain his excitement, Fran swept him up in a hug before he had a chance to respond. The eyes of the dismissing students were instantly focused on the two of them. At least, Tae-ram thought, Fran was wearing clothes from the other world. In a beige cardigan and jeans, he looked more like a student his age than a priest.

“I’ve missed you so much, Tae-ram! Your pink hair is so cute, and you look great.” 

“Thanks, Fran, you look good too, but could you please put me down first, I’m embarrassed….” 

“No!”

Tae-ram’s eyes widened at Fran’s unexpectedly firm refusal. 

“Fran, I thought you said you won’t act out of control.”

“You told me to be honest, and that’s what I’m doing.”

Tae-ram covered his face with his hands, embarrassed by the growing crowd. By tomorrow morning, there would be multiple eyewitness accounts on the school’s anonymous site.

“Well, if you promise to come over to my house right now, I’ll drop you off.”

“What? You bought a house already?”

“Yes! I arrived here a few hours ago, but I was delayed because I had to take care of some things. Oh, and I can use magic here too, although I can’t use powerful magic because my mana is sparse, so that’s good, right?”

Tae-ram wanted to know what kind of processing, and then didn’t want to know. 

“…It’s not illegal, is it?”

“Well, I used light brainwashing, but at least I didn’t hurt anyone, and I have plenty of money from the gems I collected while serving as High Priest and from Kairan’s rares.”

Brainwashing was a scary word, but at least he hadn’t stolen, Tae-ram thought.

“Anyway, I’m glad you got here safely, I missed you a lot.”

“Me too. I finished my exchange student paperwork, so we can start school together tomorrow.” 

“Oh. That’s great. How did you know about that?”

“That’s a secret.”

Tae-ram curled his tongue at Fran’s behavior. It was probably best not to probe further. 

“I’m excited about this otherworldly school, and most of all, I’m excited to have you with me. From now on, I’ll always be by your side.”

“…What are you doing?”

Se-ho, who had hurriedly followed with his bag, snatched Tae-ram from Fran’s arms and set him down on the ground.

“There you are, and your dusky hair color suits you quite well.” 

“It suits you, too, with your dull, vague hair color.”

“We’re not completely language compatible yet, but I don’t think you mean that in a good way. Are you picking a fight?”

“You seem to lack not only language but common sense as well. Isn’t it hard to live in this world, where the logic of power doesn’t apply? You’re ignorant.”

“What!”

Tae-ram was dumbfounded to see the two of them still arguing in this world, but he couldn’t help but smile at the nostalgic sight.

“Tae-ram, I’m here too.”

“Kairan. It’s good to see you.”

“Yeah! Me too. It’s been a while, could you stroke my hair, I’ve missed your touch.”

Kairan walked over and leaned his head down to rest it on Tae-ram’s chest. Tae-ram stroked his hair as they had done before. It felt so soft and fluffy after all these years.

“Wasn’t it lonely being separated from your family, Kairan?”

“No! It’s okay. My brother, mother, and father prefer to sleep anyway. But hey, I’ve already pulled all three of their rare items! I’m rich now. I can do whatever I want, Tae-ram!”

Tae-ram realized what Fran meant by robbed. 

“That’s …. That’s great.”

“What’s with your face? Aren’t you happy?” 

“I’m happy. I’m happy, but… That’s a crime.” 

“I don’t think they’ll care anyway….” 

“You didn’t ask them directly, did you?”

“I can’t because all three of them are in hibernation.”

“Kairan. Can you get them back later? I think you have enough already.” 

“Still, my brother said the more money we have, the better.”

“Does Kairan like Tae-ram? Do you like me?” 

“Of course, I like Tae-ram more.”

“Then you’ll listen to me, right?”

“…I can charge the medium, but the mana concentration here is too thin. It will take at least three months, is that okay?”

“Yes. Even if it takes a while, I want everything back.” 

“…Okay, I’ll put it back as soon as it’s charged.”

“Just make sure you put it back. Okay?”

“Yes. But it’s nice that I can be with you now.”

The sight of Kairan’s happiness lifted Tae-ram’s mood. 

“…You are so irresistible.”

“I want you to come to my house every day. Can’t we just live together?”

“Of course not, but I’ll come over often.”

Se-ho hugged Tae-ram from behind who was trying to comfort the distraught Kairan. 

“I’m not going to pass you up.”

“It’s cheesy….”

“No matter how hard you try, you shouldn’t.”

As if that wasn’t enough of a mess, Fran, who had followed them, interrupted. 

“Tae-ram, leave the two of them alone and come with me.”

“Uh… That’s….”

Fran casually put his arm around him and led him away.

* * *

After a somewhat tumultuous but pleasant reunion, they made their way home. Se-ho, who was walking side by side with Tae-ram on the night street, suggested to Tae-ram with a serious face.

“Tae-ram. Let’s sleep at my house again tonight.”

“Mischievous Se-ho. Today, I’m exhausted. Seriously, I’m so tired.” 

Tae-ram was being playful, but he was really tired today. 

“You know I put up with a lot today, right?”

Tae-ram tried to play it cool, but he had no choice in front of Se-ho, the embodiment of jealousy.

“It’s too much. Holding and stroking another man all day.”

“That’s because I’m so happy to see them, and stroking is okay, right?” 

“Either way, I don’t like it. I only want you to touch me.”

Seeing Se-ho blushing up to his ears and mumbling, Tae-ram thought it was foul play. 

“You’re doing that on purpose, aren’t you?”

“What? What do you suddenly mean?”

“This is why handsome guys… Okay, I’ll go to your place again today.” 

“Okay, great!”

Se-ho’s smile, filled with excitement, smelled like a fragrant flower, and the same smile appeared on Tae-ram’s face.

*END*